Secondary Ptsd

[mamachick]

Herewego, -please dont be discouraged. Living with someone who has been abused sure does come with its own set of affects. They may be reacting to things in a way that you might not understand .
Have you talked to a therapist about this? That might be the place to start because self diagnosis is usually incorrect. If you are feeling as though you have been traumatized some how, I hope that you share this with a professional so that you can discover why while you are young and these feeling dont go on for decades.

Be good to yourself and remember, there is a lot of information here that may help you to better understand things with mom.

 

[Anna]

It is like any mental illness. If a family member has a mental illness whether it be PTSD, Borderline, Schizophrenia, depression it will effect other family members, possibly making them suffer as well. However it is not the same as the disease itself. It is something completly different.

Of course caring for someone with any illness whether it be physical or psychiatric can be trying. It can make you ill as well with exhaustion. Especially if the person is verbally or emotionally abusive towards you. I think though is wrong to label it in this way, as it is carers of any illness that may suffer. In general society does not take the work of carers seriously. How many people care for sick or disabled children? Geriatrics etc etc.. Caring for anyone who is sick is a burden and people need support. Sometimes people can get sick from it themselves, this needs to be recognises and in general there needs to be more support and help available for carers whether it be for physical or mental problems.

 

[rbowen]

I just read a very interesting, informative and moving article about Secondary PTSD in the January-February, 2013, issue of "Mother Jones" ( a well-respected magazine that has won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism). Entitled, "Hearts & Minds" by Mac McClelland. Not sure how you could get a hold of it. Guess you could Google 'Mother Jones magazine', visit their site and email or call them. Your library might get copies.

Peace Out,
Richard

 

[safenow]

Here is the article you are referring to:

Published on Jan 24, 2013

http://matthewf.net

Mac McClelland from Mother Jones Magazine discusses her article on how PTSD is spreading from veterans to their families once they return home.